Little Red

some time, making sure everything is correct and orderly.’

‘The walls are painted’ the words fired out from the crowd

‘Yes……….look at the walls, what can we see on the walls?’

‘Tree’s’ another voice from the team

‘Exactly……a scenery, we see a wood with multi-coloured leaves, grassy hills and a clear blue sky…….anyone care to add a suggestion why?’

‘To put the girl at ease, relax her?’

‘Was that an answer or are you asking me?’ Nathan quizzed

Silence again.

‘You’re right………this killer has painted the walls to relax his victim, for them to look around and take in their surroundings. Maybe it is to help trigger a fond memory they have of playing outside or in a wood with friends or family…….it is to relax them so that when he appears wearing what he is in the footage, it scares the shit out of them!’

Jack smiled. He knew Nathan was onto something, he could tell as he had seen it before, many times.

‘The same tactic has been used by terrorist cells within the Middle East and Afghanistan. I’m sure you will have seen the footage of a beheading. The terrorists perform the same ritual over and over, to confuse the victim in captivity, to get them used to their surroundings. They do it many times, possibly twice a day, until the unlucky sod believes that the next is going to be exactly the same as before….sometimes it is…..until the day they remove the head. That day is when the ritual changes, they progress further with words, a speech that is rehearsed with the victim present so that he begins to get used to it. Once they realise that the rehearsal is different they begin to panic, scream and attempt to break free, that is fear overwhelming them, then, the head is removed!’ the faces before him, more stunned than before.

‘So to paint that scenery on the walls by hand may have taken several weeks, so once again we come back to the killer being organised’.

‘Sir, is it possible that he kept the girl there for a long time?’

‘Explain’.

‘Well, to go through all the effort to paint the walls, I can’t see them doing that just to kill the girl the moment they got her in there!’

‘Good……. starting to think now……this is what I’m looking for! To elaborate on what you just said, yes it is more than likely that he kept the victim in that room for several days before he made this footage……which now leads us to where this room could be located’.

He looked to the team for answers.

‘It could be a garage or storage place of some sort’ the answer coming from the front.

‘Farm building?’ from the back

‘Could be a cellar!’

‘All are possible locations, yes. Looking at the size of the room and brickwork I would be more inclined to say a cellar of some sort. It would have to be sound proofed or deep enough to quieten the screams’.

Nathan grabbed the glass and drank the remaining water.

‘To summarise on what we have is a killer who has planned the execution of the abduction and kill to a very high standard. They are well prepared and organised. They use a room which is under ground or hidden from any persons living close by. This tells me that the first victim is not the last, not by far. They have taken a long time in preparing this and one kill won’t fill their hunger’.

‘I would also suggest that this killer is male and that, depending on the results of the autopsy, the attack is driven by a sexual need. Opposites attract and in the case of a serial killer this normally happens, the male gender prey on the opposite and younger as it is easier for them to overpower and manipulate their prey’ he paused and scanned the room,’ This is good, this is what we call rooting the investigation, so now we have our roots…….lets grow and catch this bastard’.

The class stood and the sound of feet scuffing against the vinyl flooring drowned any chatter. Jack placed his hand on Nathans shoulder, squeezing gently.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen that Nathan, it brings back good memories’.

‘Glad it does for you Jack, any news on the autopsy yet?’

‘Nothing yet, they need to let the body fully thaw first. It was frozen stiff when she was found, any damage or identifiable marks wouldn’t show until the blood has returned to liquid…….it’s a waiting game old friend!’

‘Great, I’m going out for lunch’

‘Ok, hey, great work today pal……it’s good to have you on our side’

Nathan smiled as he left the room, he showed no sign of apology or sympathy toward Doctor Lime, he avoided him as if he weren’t there. Making his way back down the hall he found himself humming the song that the Wolf had used when slicing up the girl. It was then that he realised. The song was the one he had heard in his dream last night. He moved hastily toward the elevator, Jesus, this fucker has already worked his way into my head.

***

The loud voices could be heard through the slight gap in the open window as the car turned the final corner. Abby shifted in her seat as they neared the school. Her mum decreased the speed as they entered the twenty miles per hour zone.

‘Look mummy, there’s Katie……see?’

‘Oh yes, I see her baby’ smiling at the joy that came from her daughter.

The small Clio came to a stop on the opposite side to the front entrance. The hand break clicked several times as she applied it. She noticed her daughter edging closer to the door handle.

‘Abby’.

‘Ah huh’ her movements froze.

‘Wait for me please, you’ll see your friends in a second’ the young girl’s actions reminding her of an excited puppy. Lindsay climbed out from the driver’s seat and pushed her door shut. Moving around the front of the car, to keep an eye on her daughter, her steps placed lightly upon the snowy pavement, she checked the road for any oncoming traffic.

Abby’s door was pulled ajar and Lindsay leant over her to unclick the seat belt, the clunk told them both it was now free. She moved back allowing room for Abby to climb out of the car, her light brown hair blown to one side by a gust of wind.

‘Wait’ Lindsay warned her, the open hand placed on Abby’s shoulder. Lindsay could feel the tension building up in the little girl, she was like a cat, wriggling with excitement and preparing to pounce upon an un-expecting prey. Her hand a starting block, the girl was the runner and Lindsay’s mouth was the pistol.

‘Go on then babe’ and with the first word spoken she was off, the grey hound chasing the bunny. Lindsay laughed as she watched her daughter sprinting with such energy and enthusiasm. The pink backpack swayed violently from left to right as she crossed the road. She hoped that the girl would stay on her feet, the icy floor gritted for grip, her little legs moving rapidly.

Lindsay climbed back into the car, her eyes constantly fixed on Abby. The engine groaned to life and the mirrors were checked as she pulled out slowly. Clear both ways, the car was positioned into the left hand lane, the front wheels making contact with the zebra crossing. Lindsay noticed Abby waving from the playground. She fired an over-enthusiastic wave back with the silly Cheshire cat grin plastered onto her face. What both of them failed to notice was the black van parked opposite the play area. Within the van lay the animal, his eyes following his Abby as she moved along the fence waving. He waved back, it was less of an effort than her mother’s, but she never noticed him.

‘You will notice me Abbeeeeeeeee……I know you will!

***

The vibration caused the mobile phone to spin in effortless circles. Nathan could hear the dull sound as it seeped through the bedside table. He walked from the bathroom, toothbrush in mouth, and picked the small Samsung from its resting place. The phone had been given to him by Jack, communication was a must and Nathan didn’t own a mobile phone. He preferred to remain unreachable, when you have a mobile you are always unnecessarily reachable, he liked to say.

The screen displayed the name Jack. Knowing who it was he swallowed the mouth full of toothpaste and